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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter - He is Risen

Easter Lilies- The white blossoms of the Lilly, symbolize the purity of Jesus. Lilies, emerging from the earth in the spring, also symbolize new life and the resurrection of Christ.

In Roman mythology white Lilies are associated with the Queen of Gods, Juno. It is said that when Queen Juno was feeding her baby son, Hercules, some milk fell from the sky forming the Milky Way and creating white lilies, from the drops that fell to earth.

The Lamb - The Lamb is the oldest of the Easter symbols, and was originally offered as a gift to the Gods. In Christian tradition, the Easter lamb stands as a symbol of God sacrificing His son "the Lamb of God".

The Cross - The Cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, reminding us of the sacrifice He made for the sins of man. An empty Cross, on the other hand, symbolizes Jesus' victory over death, indicative of the resurrection. Thus the Easter Cross is a sacred symbol of faith, representing both the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ.

The Butterfly - is a significant symbol of Easter. It's whole life cycle is meant to symbolize the life of Jesus Christ.

In the first stage, the caterpillar; stands for "His life on Earth". The second phase begins from the cocoon stage; portraying the "Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus". The third and final stage, is the complete Butterfly; representing "His Rising from the Dead and New Life".Taken from here.

Mark 16:1-8When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.(NIV)